van wagenee



(No Model.)

0. A. VAN WAGENER.

- FIRE ESUAPE. No. 295.212.

Patented Mar. 18, 1884.

' NITED STATES PATENT -rri;ca.

CORNELIUS A. VAN WAGENER, OF ELLENVILLE, NEIV YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersla'tent No. 295,212, dated March 18, 1884.

Application filed April as, use. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS ARR-m VAG- ENER, of Ellenville, in the coupty of Ulster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire-escapes, the object of the same being to provide a small neat device which may be carried around, and at the same time strong, durable, and efficient in use; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combina tions of parts, as will be hereinafter explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is.

a view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the friction device.

A represents the friction-holder, constructed of steel, iron, or other desired metal, made in a straight, spiral, or zigzag form, and provided at each end with a ring, a. Near each end of this friction device, and rigidlysecured thereto, is an open loop or ring, B, the. ends of which pass each other. To the lower ring, a, is removably secured, preferably by a snaphook, a leather belt or equivalent, 0, adapted to be fitted and securely buckled around the body of the person using the escape.

WVhcn it is desired to use my improved device, it is simply necessary to fasten one end of a rope or wire, D, to a projection or other suitable article, and allow the other end to drop to the ground. The ropeor wire D is then slipped into the upper open ring or loop, B, by entering it between the ends thereof. The rope or wire is then coiled or wound around the friction device A a suitable num ber of times, and then slipped into the lower loop, 13. The belt G is buckled around the body and secured to the lower ring, a, by means of the snap-hook. The person is then ready to descend, the friction of the rope and friction device causing the descent to be very slow, which may be checked altogether by a pull on the rope below the friction holder or device.

It will be seen that by employing open loops or rings B near the ends of the holder it avoids the necessity of running the whole rope through the loop, commencing with the lower end, which would necessarily be the case were closed rings employed. Instead of attaching one end to a hook or projectionrigidly secured to the building, it may be secured to the upper ring, a, of the holder, the rope then passing around a pulley secured over the window. By this arrangement, after one person has descended, by simply removing the rope from the lower loop, B, and uncoilingthe same from around the holder, the latter may be raised by the rope, and can be used untilevery person has descended.

My invention is exceedingly simple, strong, and economical in construction, practical and efficient inuse, and at the same time small, neat, and portable.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the rope or wire, ofa friction-holder having a spiral body, around and through which the rope or wire is wound, and provided at each end with a ring and an open loop, the ends of which latter pass each other, and a belt removably secured to the lower ring and the holder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a rope or wire, of a friction device, around which the rope or wire is wound, provided at or near its opposite ends with open loops, the ends of whichlatter pass each other, and a belt removably secured to the lowerend of the friction device.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS A. VAN WAGENER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. HOAR, JOHN J. Bovon. 

